VANCEBORO – The New Bern Bears utilized their pitching and defense to scrap out a 4-1 win over West Craven in a non-conference softball game Thursday in Vanceboro.

Pitchers Kristen Daughtridge and Kayla Dellapia combined to limit West Craven’s offense to one run on five base hits.

After starter Daughtridge tossed four innings, Dellapia picked up the save with three shutout innings.

“She did an awesome job,” said New Bern coach Sara Harrison. “She comes in and relieves Kristen and she pitches her game. She has a great defense to back her up.”

New Bern (8-3) swept the season series. The Bears beat West Craven, 13-4, back on March 13.

Over the past four seasons, New Bern owns a 4-3 series advantage.

“Anytime you lose to New Bern, it’s disappointing. That’s what makes a rivalry,” said West Craven coach David Fernandez. “If one team is winning all the time, it’s not very fun.

“It sucks to lose to them twice, but we are still a team in progress.”

Lexi Smith drove home Taylor Niemotka with an RBI single in the top of the first to give the Bears a 1-0 lead. West Craven knotted the score when Courtney Pierre’s sacrifice fly plated Bailey Anderson who led the bottom of the third off with a single.

New Bern’s three-run fifth inning was the difference.

Niemotka had a run-scoring single and Hannah Colflesh drove two in with a single.

“We just kept telling them to relax and trust their hands,” Harrison said. “When they got it through their minds that they could do it, they picked it up and did what they needed to do.”

New Bern’s defense backed up the pitchers.

The first West Craven batter laced a line drive that deflected off third baseman Kelsey Crawford’s glove before Smith, playing shortstop, dove to make the catch.

Smith started a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Niemotka went 3-for-4 for New Bern. Crawford, Lauren Lane, Smith, Colflesh and Mandy Hollar also accounted for the team’s eight base hits.

“(Taylor’s) momentum is great. She kind of picks the team up,” Harrison said. “When she gets it started, everybody else follows behind her.”